consultress

English

Etymology

From consultor +‎ -ess.

Noun

consultress (plural consultresses)

1. A female consultor.
   • 1725, Annals of the English Benedictines of Ghent‎^[1], published 1894, page 170:

     Dm Constantia Howard 1st Dean & Consultress in ye 55th of her age & 38th of her profession. / Dm Cecilia Tildesley 2nd Dean Consultress & Mrs. of Novices in ye 38th of her age & 18th of her profession. / Dm Winefrid Lucy 3rd Dean Consultress & Cellerier in ye 35th of her age & 17th of her profession. / Dm Augustin Blundel 4th Dean Consultress & Infirmarian in ye 38th of her age & 17th of her profession.

   • 1847 [1820], Howard, Jacob M., transl., Historical and Secret Memoirs of the Empress Josephine, (Marie Rose Tascher de La Pagerie.) First Wife of Napoleon Bonaparte., volume I, Philadelphia: John E. Potter and Company, translation of Mémoires historiques et secrets de l'impératrice Joséphine, Marie-Rose Tascher-de-la-Pagerie, première épouse de Napoléon Bonaparte by Lenormand, Marie Anne, page 332:

     (98) Page 188. / On the 2d of May, 1801, I was invited to Malmaison at nine o’clock in the morning. I was utterly ignorant who the lady was that invited me, although I was pretty well persuaded it must be some one attached to Josephine. I was far, however, from supposing that, in her present elevation, she could condescend to think of me. I know by long experience that a certain kind of knowledge has but few admirers. It appeared that my illustrious consultress, in order to conceal from her friends what were the real revelations she wanted from me, had given out that she was anxious to discover the author of a theft recently committed in the chateau—this, at least, was what the lady told me who introduced me.

   • 1853, Henry James Coleridge, The Life of Mother Frances Mary Teresa Ball, Foundress in Ireland of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary‎^[2], published 1881, page 278:

     ‘10th September, 1853. / ‘Very dear Mother Mary Teresa, / ‘I am charmed at your foundation at Brantford, and the selection you have made of a head and members. / ‘It is quite right for you to take charge of the novices. Some one under you to inspect manual works is required. If Sister N. be required at Niagara, a prudent Sister will be desirable to accompany her as consultress; and if she write to you every week, there will be little to fear if she implicitly follow your directions. […]  / ‘Your ever affectionate, / ‘Frances Ball.’

   • 1897, Niagara Rainbow‎^[3], Sketch of the Life of Mother Mary Joseph Juliana Martin, Superior of St. Mary’s Convent, York, from 1862 to 1883., page 103:

     The gratifying reflection was of short duration, however, for presently, the bell of summons reassembled the council, and Reverend Mother very humbly expressed her regret for having censured with unnecessary severity the person of whom they had had occasion to speak, admonishing consultresses that, in future, in similar cases, as little should be said as possible.

   • 1924, The Life and Work of Mary Aikenhead: Foundress of the Congregation of Irish Sisters of Charity, 1787-1858, by a Member of the Congregation, pages 238–239:

     “ […] The Head Superior ought to hear all, and even if not a Consultress of the Congregation, the opinion of the Rectress of the place to which the consultation has reference, will always be considered as very weighty. Observe, I say, opinion—conscientious opinion, not whim or personal inclination or prejudice.”

   • 1926, Private Correspondence and Miscellaneous Papers of Samuel Pepys, 1679-1703: In the Possession of J. Pepys Cockerell, volume 1, page 117:

     That is to say, / I swear by Jupiter Olympian and Counsellor, and by Vesta the Consultress, and by Jupiter the Marier, and by Juno the Maried, and by Minerva the Provident, and Victory, and Venus, and Amity, and Concord, and Right and Equity, and Good Fortune, and by all the other Gods and Goddesses: […]

   • 1965, Catholic Record Society, Catholic Record Society Publications: Records Series, volume 78, pages 89, 140:

     So Mother Imelda travelled north, carrying with her an autocratic temperament, a habit of making snap decisions and sweeping changes, and an expectation of loyal support. She entered a house where tradition was paramount and where the Superior, though a ‘grande dame’, was surrounded by consultresses and monitors. […] In York she was a Consultress as well as teaching in the day and boarding schools and serving as Head Mistress of the latter.

   • 1969, Thomas Corbishley, Mary Ward in the Twentieth Century: The Life of Reverend Mother M. Cecilia Marshall, IBVM, page 101:

     York began: / Your letter to me was a great joy to me, also to the Consultresses to whom I showed it.

   • 1978, Ioan Wiliams, The Idea of the Novel in Europe, 1600–1800‎^[4], published 1979, page 217:

     Mme de Merteuil’s seduction of Danceny is equally instructive, the method in this case depending on a subtle mixture of sentiment and sensuality, employed in her role as consultress regarding the ironically slow-moving affair with Cécile.